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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Debut Stage
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The very first scene of Episode 1 was, of course, the debut stage.
True to the agency's name, 'Colors,' their debut song was titled 'Rainbow.'
The song was composed by Danha of 'Burn Ash,' an idol group under Colors.
The lyrics were written by Doyi of 'WhiteNoise,' another idol group from Colors.
Their slogan was a stage solely by Colors, for Colors, and of Colors.
"Writer Kang."
"Yes."
"What do you think of the song?"
PD O Baek-gyeong bit his nails as he watched the twelve trainees ascend the stage.
"The song needs to be good for them to become popular. I don't have an ear for music, so I can't tell if it's good or bad. And I don't like that Colors' own idols composed and wrote the lyrics."
PD O Baek-gyeong had many complaints about the stage, which CEO Hong had shrewdly insisted on featuring only Colors' idols.
Even the choreography was created by Jinhwa of 'Grayish,' another Colors idol. It was truly a case of milking their own talent dry.
"You have to hand it to CEO Hong for her Colors obsession. She's overly fond of her own artists. Seriously, it's like she's obsessed with domestic production. Why is everything self-produced?"
"Well, it's annoying, but... if I had raised them to that level, I'd probably want to use them too."
That was true, though. PD O Baek-gyeong ran a finger over his mouth.
"Right, after pouring all that money into developing them. They have to be used."
"Exactly."
"And I hear she barely leaves her studio these days? Obsessed with producing and composing?"
"It's well-known, isn't it? CEO Hong has no interest in management. That's why Director Kim Mo-gyeong can throw her weight around like that."
"CEO Hong is great in every way but that. If only Director Kim Mo-gyeong had been dealt with, Colors would be the top agency in the country right now."
"That's true. But she's so obsessed with music..."
"That's why she succeeded, but it's still a shame."
Writer Kang nodded indifferently.
Ever since 'Make a New Color' was planned, the production team and Director Kim Mo-gyeong had often clashed.
Director Kim Mo-gyeong chose a path that would ruin the entire group, all to debut her niece, Kim Ryeo-yu, as the center.
If PD O Baek-gyeong hadn't kept her in check until now, Kim Ryeo-yu would have taken everything, and only trainees close to her would have debuted.
"I don't understand how such a large agency could operate like that."
"It's a large agency, but not a large corporation. And even large corporations don't always run smoothly."
"Indeed, just looking at our own broadcasting station..."
PD O Baek-gyeong clicked his tongue, thinking of the station director, who was easily swayed by Director Kim Mo-gyeong.
How much money had he taken, anyway?
"But still, the song is good."
At Writer Kang's words, PD O Baek-gyeong's eyes lit up.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes. As you know, PD, even if the director is a bit... subpar—"
Writer Kang scanned the trainees on the monitor and continued.
"Those kids there are definitely quite good."
On the darkened stage, twelve trainees stood in a V-formation.
The center was Kim Ryeo-yu.
On either side were Seo Baek-yeong and Ryu Bo-ra.
And nine trainees followed closely behind them.
Each trainee wore a white shirt and a black school uniform skirt.
Overall, it felt like they were aiming for a preppy look.
Amidst their unified outfits, the only distinguishing feature was their accessories.
Yun Cheong wore a necklace, Seo Baek-yeong an anklet, Ryu Bo-ra a hair clip, Kim Ryeo-yu earrings, Yeon Ju-hong a brooch, and Kim Geum a ring.
Other trainees also wore different accessories, one each.
Though all different, they shared one commonality—every accessory featured a golden wing pendant.
Just as someone with a keen eye might notice, the instrumental track began to play.
With a cheerful pop sound, Kim Ryeo-yu, the center, took the lead.
"I am your New color
Color me, draw me
I'll dye you, I'll draw you"
The chorus began immediately from the start.
All twelve performed a group dance of moderate difficulty, without significantly altering their formation.
However,
"But with a flicker, the rainbow vanishes
Only the blue sky is eternal"
With Yun Cheong's vocals, the song's atmosphere completely shifted.
Unlike the first half, which was an easy-listening hook song—
"Over the rainbow
We're waiting for you
I'll steal all your colors
I'll paint my colors over you"
The overall mood became grand and melancholic.
The lighthearted choreography also gradually intensified.
As the song reached its climax,
The twelve trainees formed a circle, pointing their hands towards the center.
"Over the rainbow
We're still here
We're still blue"
With Ryu Bo-ra's final vocal, all the trainees turned around and sat down.
And embracing their knees, the song ended.
***
"..."
As expected, the atmosphere was grim.
I looked around.
Even though it was an hour before the announced meeting time, everyone had already gathered early.
But no one spoke.
It was understandable.
Yesterday was the day the video of our first joint stage and our unofficial debut song, 'Rainbow,' was released.
Oh, it's out, it's out!
▶ [First Reveal! 'Make a New Color''s First Stage. Girls bringing a rainbow to your hearts now!]
It hadn't even been 24 hours, but the video's views were absolutely massive.
However, all the attention wasn't necessarily a good thing.
?Are they really from a big agency? The kids' quality is so-so, thought it was a small company.
└Don't disrespect small companies, even they're better than this lol
Colors is past its prime.
The center is a bit iffy.
└My thoughts exactly, they should've made Ryu Bo-ra the center instead.
└Yeah, next Ryu Bo-ra fan.
└I think Seo Baek-yeong's dance lines are the best, though.
But surprisingly, the undisclosed trainee is better. Who's the one singing the chorus? Her voice is so refreshing.
└She's probably the main vocal.
└Her name is Yun Cheong ㅠㅠ Please look kindly on our Cheongie.
Ryu Bo-ra is amazing. She's an actress by origin, but she's so good?!
Who's the one with pink pigtails? I'm smitten ㅠ
└Yeon Ju-hong.
└Wow, even her name is Yeon Ju-hong.
They had already become a hot topic with their teaser, and then cemented it with their self-introduction videos.
In such a situation, when the stage was revealed, it was chaos.
Some trainees received good reviews, but others did not.
The more well-known a trainee was to the public, the harsher the evaluations.
'...It was the expected outcome.'
Basically, there are high expectations for trainees who are already known.
Unknown trainees, on the other hand, start with literally 'zero' expectations, so their first impression can be even better.
'Well-known trainees are... truly a double-edged sword.'
If they do well, it's a huge success; if they fall short even a little, it's rock bottom.
That's the fate of trainees.
Everyone's expressions were grim, but the one who seemed most nervous was Kim Ryeo-yu.
Why?
Because the production crew had just—
'Earlier, it seemed like there was some tension between trainee Kim Ryeo-yu and another trainee regarding the center position?'
'Was there perhaps some dissatisfaction with the center selection?'
—taken such interviews.
Yes, becoming the center isn't everything.
The broadcast starts now.
***
Production Team: Earlier, it seemed like there was some tension between trainee Kim Ryeo-yu and another trainee regarding the center position?
[Gyeong-a: Haha... (Awkward laugh)]
[Gyeong-a: I really shouldn't say this.]
[Production Team: Why not?]
[Gyeong-a: I'll get targeted.]
[Production Team: By whom?]
Caption: Gyeong-a points upwards... What does it mean?
[Ha-eun: Well... she's the judge's niece, isn't she?]
[Su-in: What's there to hush up about? Is there any trainee who doesn't know Ryeo-yu is Director Kim Mo-gyeong's niece?]
[Geum: Honestly... everyone probably feels a bit slighted. They just can't say anything.]
[Yeon Ju-hong: I thought there would be a center selection competition.]
[Shin Yu-hyeon: But then, on the first day of learning the choreography, Director Kim Mo-gyeong and Trainer Jo Won-ho came...]
[Lee Ju-seon: They just told us directly. That the formation was already decided, so we should just memorize it as is.]
[Gyeong-a: So I was curious. Who would be the center then? Seo Baek-yeong?]
[Yeon Ju-hong: But when I saw, it was Ryeo-yu Unnie. It was surprising.]
Caption: Trainee Kim Ryeo-yu, who immediately became the center.
[Su-in: I thought Seo Baek-yeong Unnie or Ryu Bo-ra would be the center.]
[Seo Baek-yeong: I didn't expect to be the center. But just...]
Caption: (Bitterly)
[Seo Baek-yeong: ...I also didn't think it would be Ryeo-yu.]
[Yun Cheong: Honestly, everyone has the right to be the center. I think they also have the right to compete. But we couldn't even compete, so it's a shame.]
Production Team: Actually, it's not the first time Ryeo-yu has been the center.
[Su-in: That's why it's really strange. Even for our first teaser, Ryeo-yu Unnie was the center.]
[Yeon Ju-hong: Back then, I just thought someone had to be the center, and it happened to be Ryeo-yu Unnie.]
[Ha-eun: But for her to be the center again this time, isn't that a bit much?]
Production Team: Aren't you disappointed about not being the center?
[Seo Baek-yeong: Of course I'm disappointed. How could I not be? I'm *this* much disappointed.]
[Ryu Bo-ra: I'm not particularly disappointed.]
Production Team: Do you not have ambitions for the center position?
[Ryu Bo-ra: No, of course I have ambitions.]
Production Team: Then why?
[Ryu Bo-ra: Because I can do it after we debut. It doesn't matter.]
Production Team: How did you feel when you became the center?
[Ryeo-yu: I felt really good. Like all my efforts were finally being recognized.]
[Ryeo-yu: Ah, like, 'Finally, my chance has come'? It felt like I was being rewarded for all my hard work.]
Production Team: There's a lot of talk about the center controversy.
[Ryeo-yu: ...]
Caption: Ryeo-yu is unable to speak...
[Ryeo-yu: It's upsetting because there are so many misunderstandings.]
Production Team: Why do you think you were chosen as the center?
[Ryeo-yu: But at first, the Director and trainers explained everything. They said I was chosen because my image suited this concept. And that for the next song, someone else who fits that concept will be the center.]
Caption: Ryeo-yu wipes away tears.
[Ryeo-yu: I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying...]
[Ryeo-yu: Everyone understands, of course, that I won't be the center forever and that the center will change to match each concept...]
Caption: Though she couldn't say it, her heart was heavy...
[Ryeo-yu: I just think it's a matter of me doing well.]
[Can trainee Kim Ryeo-yu truly prove herself...?
Find out next week, same time!
Don't miss it, tune in live!]
With clunky captions, Episode 1 of 'Make a New Color' came to an end.
[Please color Colors' new color!]
[Which new color will our Colorists choose?]
[See you next week, same time, bye~!]
"...It's more interesting than I thought?"
Viewers who had watched without any expectations tilted their heads in surprise as Episode 1 concluded.
This is more interesting than I thought...!
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